“Plane crash is the official story,” said Damian. “So don’t worry. Your friends and associates won’t miss you. Well, okay, poor choice of words. They won’t be wondering where you are, is what I meant.”

“What about the family business?!”

“It’s alright,” said Damian. “I liquidated all of your assets. Almost all, anyway. A good forty percent or so.”

“That is NOT almost all!”

“Eh, it’s just money, and we’ve got more than enough of that already. What’s important is that we have each other!”

More groans.

“You’ve just gotta look on the bright side!” said Damian. “Now you’re all free to do as you please! Nothing tying you down!”

“Aside from you, you mean,” said Elwood.

“Yes, aside from me. But I know what’s best, so that’s no big deal, right? Come on, everybody! Don’t look so down! This is the start of a new chapter in all of your lives! The funnest chapter! I’m gonna show you guys all sorts of neat stuff!”

“So does that mean you’re going to let us leave after all?” said Elwood.

“Of course I will! Eventually. Maybe a few months from now.”

That sparked the loudest chorus of groans yet.

“Just think of it as your important ‘bonding time’ with one another.” Damian let a beat pass, then set his gaze on Dunstan specifically. “And if, for whatever reason, you guys don’t start bonding soon, then that’s fine, too. Rest assured! I won’t give up on you! I’ll keep you here for however it long it takes! Years! Decades, even! I’m very patient!”

There were more places to look than Hector realized. While he didn’t mind the opportunity to explore Himmekel more, it soon began to feel a bit hopeless, trying to find a keyhole in this giant place. That, of course, was why they had decided to split up during their search, but even still, Hector was left to wonder if they would really be able to find anything like this.

It seemed like the reapers should have been able to locate a hidden room behind a false wall or whatever, but that was not the case, apparently. If there was no soul for them to sense on the other side of said false wall, then the reapers had no way of knowing there was a hidden room there.